The U.S. Government is providing $150,000 in immediate assistance to help Moldovans affected by the drought, the U.S. Embassy in Moldova announced today. This assistance will be used to purchase seeds locally and distribute seeds to drought-affected farmers in time for the fall planting season. A recent assessment by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and U.N. World Food Program (WFP) identified the need for cereal seeds (mostly wheat, barley and rye) as the most immediate support that farmers need. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Kelly Keiderling said that although this initial aid is quite modest, the U.S. Government hoped to reach the most affected areas quickly. Moldovan farmers who have lost their crops do not have money to buy seeds. The free seeds will allow the farmers to plant this fall and not lose yet another crop. The U.S. Government's Agency for International Development (USAID) will work together with the American organization, Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA), and with Moldovan farmer associations to provide seeds to farmers as quickly as possible. Extremely high temperatures and minimal rainfall during the 2007 summer have led to widespread drought conditions in 28 of Moldova’s 32 raions. According to the FAO/WFP assessment, 84 percent of Moldova’s arable land is affected by the drought and the cost of lost cereal crops is nearly 300 million euros. Losses in the livestock sector will likely be even higher, FAO/WFP estimated.